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Your workforce is the heartbeat of your business. Ensuring their safety and wellbeing is not only a fundamental responsibility, but also an investment in the business’s future. The attrition and replacement of employees is costly, both financially and culturally. Additionally, a workforce that feels respected and cared for will show greater commitment and productivity. Quite aside from the fact that your workforce are human beings whose well-being you should take an interest in anyway, it is simply sound business sense to ensure they feel safe and protected at all times. Here are four key aspects to consider when protecting your employees.

Safety from Injury

The physical safety of your employees is paramount. Regular risk assessments should be undertaken, with priority given to high-risk areas. Warehouses, for instance, can pose significant hazards and should be equipped with safety measures like proper industrial lighting and comprehensive training for workers. When operating machinery, it is of fundamental importance that warehouse workers can see and be seen clearly at all times.. Keeping high-traffic areas free of potential tripping or slipping hazards in the office is another essential step towards a safer work environment.

Protection from Burnout

While productivity is crucial, it’s important to remember that employees cannot operate at maximum capacity at all times. It’s essential to balance periods of intense activity with calmer, more sedate tasks that allow employees to decompress. Overworking employees can lead to exhaustion and a decline in their overall efficiency. Treating them with humanity and understanding will foster loyalty and improve their performance. Burnout is gaining an increasing level of focus in the present day, and with good reason – an increasing number of employees are leaving jobs because they feel overworked and undervalued.

Mental Health Support

The importance of mental health in the workplace cannot be overstated. Mental ailments like anxiety or depression can be just as debilitating as physical injuries, yet they often receive less attention because they are unseen maladies. Employers must ensure access to mental health services and create an environment where employees can engage in fulfilling work. An investment in mental wellbeing is an investment in the overall health and productivity of your team. It’s an investment you’ll be able to see paying off in the performance levels of your staff.

Security during Commutes

Protection of employees should not be limited to office hours alone. Ensuring their safety during commutes is equally important. Businesses should provide secure premises where only employees have access, mitigating risks like unwanted intruders or potential stalkers. Open communication channels for employees to voice their concerns regarding their safety during their commute are also essential. If necessary, providing transport facilities to avoid employees having to traverse through unsafe areas can prove beneficial.

In conclusion, protecting your employees is a multi-faceted task that goes beyond mere compliance with regulations. By safeguarding their physical safety, preventing burnout, supporting their mental health, and ensuring their security during commutes, businesses not only create a nurturing work environment but also foster a loyal, efficient, and happier workforce.

Running a successful manufacturing business involves many elements, including finding ways to make your factory more efficient to boost production. However, a significant aspect often overlooked is the facility’s safety, which can also significantly impact output levels. A recent study mentioned that safety and efficiency are intermixed since people are cost-conscious and inclined to do more if they feel safe. Prioritising safety around your facility will motivate your employees to perform their functions better while helping them feel valued.  Below are four ways to make your manufacturing facility safer. 

1. Set the pace 

Developing a safety culture begins with good leadership, where managers create a culture in which safety has been completely integrated into the business and is a key value in which all workers participate and share responsibility. By proving that you care about your employees’ well-being, your staff will be more grateful to your management and more willing to follow standards and procedures. It’s always easier for your workers to remember what is required of them when you lead by example and show them the way. That includes wearing the appropriate safety gear and using equipment for their intended purpose.

2. Establish key performance indicators

Establishing key performance indicators for safety is critical for your manufacturing facility. These metrics should concentrate on leading indicators and lagging indicators. Consider lagging indicators as events or incidents you are attempting to avoid. In contrast, leading indicators are a set of metrics that provide an early warning that the danger of an incident is growing. A measurement of the methods you use to prevent events, such as training, observation, and inspections, are examples of leading indicators. While doing this, remember to keep your staff updated on the status of repairs and how dangers have been prioritised.

3. Learn how to spot safety hazards

Spotting safety risks is essential and requires training for management and working teams. You should be familiar with the safety hazards common in your specific facility. This way, you can readily identify red flags during a routine walk through the plant. For instance, is your factory bursting with slip or fire risks? They might not be obvious, but with the right training and knowledge, you can quickly spot them and take the right preventative steps. Meanwhile, applying high performance coating with anti-slip and fire-retardant properties to your components can help eliminate some risks.

4. Create a clear emergency exit plan 

Although you may take proactive steps to prevent emergencies, it’s still possible for them to occur. Therefore, having an evacuation plan that is clear and understandable to everyone in your facility is essential. Your employees should know where the emergency exits are located and how to navigate them promptly. Having all staff crowding a single emergency exit is not productive, leading to gridlock. Identify multiple egress points, and assign employees to specific routes. It’s also vital to designate a clearly defined meeting point outdoors to avoid confusion while checking to see who is unaccounted for. Having a list of employees in the facility on any given day is also essential so that a plant safety supervisor or designated employee can frequently keep track of who is entering and leaving the facility during the evacuation.

If you are concerned that your business could be losing money and want to do something about it, then you have come to the right place. This guide will tell you why you are losing so much money, and what you can do to stop it from adversely affecting you in the long run.

Poor Accounting

One of the top reasons why small businesses end up losing money is because of poor accounting. If you want to have any chance of success, then you need to know your numbers. If you don’t then you can’t possibly know how much is coming in and out of your business. When you run a company, there is no room for inaccurate accounting. If you are slow to log your transactions, then you will never have a clear idea of how much you have at any given time. If you buy a lot of supplies but do not enter the transactions into your books immediately then you may think that you have more money than you actually do. Small errors, such as mixing up your numbers or recording items in the wrong way can devastate your company. You can avoid errors like this by closing and by reconciling your books. You also need to carry out internal audits and go through a professional accountant when finalising your business records.

Poorly Priced Products

You have to do what you can to find a good middle ground when it comes to pricing your product. If you sell your product for too much or for too little, then your company will eventually lose out on money. If you set your prices far too high, then customers will never buy your product. People may even view your products as being unaffordable and they will go elsewhere. If you set your prices too low then you may not turn much of a profit, and this is also the last thing you need. It can be very difficult for you to create a price for your product but at the end of the day, it is not impossible, You need to conduct a market analysis to learn what customers you have and what they are willing to pay. Making sure that they are able to pay in the way that they want is also important. If you haven’t done so already, now is the time to look into a merchant account for CBD.

Combined Bank Accounts

Whatever you do, you have to make sure that you don’t use one bank account for your personal use as well as for your business use. Open up another bank account if you can. If you share an account with your business, then you may find that money becomes muddled and that you have no idea what belongs to you and what belongs to your business. If you have one account and a personal emergency comes up, you may be tempted to use your business bank account to pay for it. Talk with a financial advisor if you need some support with this.